JOHOR BARU — Johor Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar said he “felt slighted” by former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad who had called Bugis descendants “pirates", noting that such callous remarks by politicians could sow hatred among the people.

He said such remarks could destroy the Johorean way of life called muafakat or cooperation, which has enable Johor people to live in peace, harmony and prosperity.

“I, too, felt slighted (by what Dr Mahathir said). I am of Bugis descent. The Sultan of Selangor is of Bugis descent. Many Johoreans are of Bugis descent. My ancestry can be traced to Riau-Lingga (in Indonesia), where there are many Bugis people,” he said in an interview with the media conglomerate Media Prima Group in conjunction with his 59th birthday.

“Imagine if I say that Chinese were robbers. Won’t the Chinese feel slighted? If I say the Indians are murderers? The Indians will feel slighted. This is what I have been saying. Such things will cause disunity and incite hatred among the races.”

The Bugis community is a Malay sub-ethnic group that originates from the Sulawesi islands in Indonesia. Large sections of the Muslim community in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia are of Bugis descent.

Dr Mahathir had allegedly referenced Prime Minister Najib Razak’s ancestry when he made the remarks at an anti-kleptocracy rally in Selangor on Oct 14. Mr Najib, has in the past, spoken proudly of his family’s Bugis ancestry.

“Maybe he can trace his ancestry to Bugis pirates. Somehow, he lost his way and came to Malaysia. Go home to Bugis (Sulawesi)!” Dr Mahathir had said.

His remarks caused an uproar among the Bugis community in Malaysia, with one group protesting outside Dr Mahathir’s Perdana Leadership Foundation office in Putrajaya on Oct 18.

Earlier this month, the Sultan of Selangor said Dr Mahathir should be investigated for sedition as the former premier’s remarks had appeared to incite Malaysians to hate, degrade and view the Bugis community with contempt.

Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla had also demanded an apology from the former premier, while the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta beefed up its security as a sign of precaution.

The former premier however, has since explained that his comments were only directed at “crooks who stole money”.

Dr Mahathir has been Mr Najib’s chief critic, accusing the premier of corruption following the news of RM2.6 billion (S$838 million) being deposited into the premier’s private accounts, as well as of financial irregularities in state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

He joined hands with the opposition after forming the bumiputra-centric Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) last year and has been going around the country in a campaign to oust Mr Najib.

Sultan Ibrahim said he wanted all Johoreans, regardless of race, to come together in unity.

“We should be respecting one another. We cannot allow anyone to say something that will cause one race to hate another. There is not just one race involved in developing Johor. Everyone plays a role,” he said.

He said that any semblance of disunity could disrupt Johor’s development, and affect the state’s prosperity and the people’s wellbeing.

“The Malays, Indians, Chinese and all others are Bangsa Johor. Once there is disunity... Bangsa Johor will be disunited,” he said.

The state’s Bangsa Johor concept bases its development on fostering unity through respect for race, religion and culture. NEW STRAITS TIMES